VDOT News - Northern Virginia

FAIRFAX - VDOT Northern Virginia crews are ready for snowfall and wintry precipitation that is forecast to significantly impact the region Sunday and Monday.

As always, residents are asked to monitor forecasts, plan ahead to avoid nonessential travel during winter weather, and to be aware of the potential for black ice and nightly refreeze as temperatures remain low.

What's Happening Now

• See the Winter Storm Watch from the National Weather Service for part of VDOT's Northern Virginia District, with a range of snow accumulations forecast from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning. Please monitor forecasts closely for updates.

• Northern Virginia District crews began pretreating interstates, primaries, and high-volume secondary roads, along with bridges, ramps and overpasses with salt brine Friday and will finish Saturday morning.

• Brine is 77% water and 23% salt. It is sprayed on the road and when it evaporates, it leaves white lines of salt residue, or brine lines as they are commonly referred to. Brine works to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement in the first hour or so of a snowstorm.

• Plan your trips now to avoid and limit travel on Sunday into Monday if possible.

• With forecasted winter storms coinciding with the return of students to college campuses around the Commonwealth this weekend, VDOT is reminding students and their families to plan move-in travel around winter weather this weekend.

Reminders for Residents and Drivers:

• Monitor the forecast closely and prepare to stay off roads when snowfall begins, to avoid deteriorating conditions and to allow crews room to work. Plan to avoid nonessential travel Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.

• If you must drive, ensure headlights are on, drive for the conditions, and be familiar with these winter driving tips.

• Monitor road conditions on www.511virginia.org or the free mobile app, or call 511 from any phone in Virginia.

• Follow @vadotnova and @NWS_BaltWash for real-time updates!

• Learn more about snow removal by visiting virginiadot.org/snow and viewing Northern Virginia District's fact sheet.

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